After the disastrous first round exit in the team event, Malaysia’s two pairs in the men’s doubles – Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi – marched into the second round when the individual events in the 18th Asian Games got underway at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Thursday.
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Malaysia’s hopes of winning medals now lie in the individual events after failing to retain their bronze medal in the team event – losing 3-0 to Japan in the first round.
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Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong outplayed Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh of Thailand 21-15, 21-16 in the first round and will now face Nepal’s Shrestha siblings – Nabin and Bikash for a place in the quarter-finals.
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In the battle of the minnows, the Nepalese pair defeated Mongolia’s Sumiyasuren Enkhbat-Temuulen Gombodori 21-12, 21-7.
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Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi surprised Hong Kong’s experienced pair of Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Or Chin Chung 21-11, 21-18 but face a tough hurdle in the second round against Japan’s third seeds Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda who stopped Tinn Isriyanet-Kittisak Namdash of Thailand 21-11, 21-16.
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In the mixed doubles, Rio Olympics silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying chopped down India’s 24th ranked Pranaav Jerry Chopra-N. Sikki Reddy 21-15, 23-23.
For a place in the quarter-finals, the Malaysians will take on Hong Kong’s 23rd ranked Reginald Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah, 21-11, 21-11 winners over Dipesh Dhani-Jessica Gurung of Nepal.
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World No 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie stormed past Wang Chi-lin-Lee Chia-hsin of Chinese Taipei 21-12, 21-16. The Malaysians next play Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying who drew a first-round bye.
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In the women’s doubles, Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean will face India’s Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy in the second round.Â
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The Malaysians gunned down Chen Hsiao Huan-Hu Ling Fang of Chinese Taipei 21-13, 21-14 while the Indians downed Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Yung-Yeung Nga Ting 21-16, 21-15 in their first-round matches. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH